Job Description
Associate Development Director
About BxCM: Bronx Children’s Museum is a new kind of multicultural, Bronx-inspired children’s museum operating “with and without walls'' geared to those from infancy through fourth grade. The Museum engages 16,000 children and their caregivers/families annually with programming in schools and after school, at community-based organizations, shelters, libraries, local festivals and parks. In late 2022, it will open the first children’s museum facility in the history of the Bronx, a 13,000 sq. ft. space in a historic, City-owned building located in a park in the South Bronx. The Museum views outreach programs as complementary to and an extension of those in the building, and vice versa. Check out our website to see the exciting progress of our space!
About the Job: The Museum is seeking an experienced, strategic, skilled and passionate Associate Development Director with excellent writing skills to join our “small but mighty,” fast-paced team. The candidate must be committed to helping achieve rapid year-over-year growth–with the opening of the building, our general operating budget is doubling from $1.3M in 2021 to $2.6M in 2022. The Associate Development Director will lead the grant process and assist in departmental fundraising activities, including, but not limited to individual donor cultivation and special events including the annual gala. This role reports to the Director of Development.
Benefits offered the Associate Development Director at BxCM:
- Competitive salary range of $75,000 to $85,000, commensurate with experience
- Eligible to participate in Health Insurance (Medical/Dental)
- Generous Paid Time Off Policy
- Company Paid Holidays
- 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with Employer Matching
Position Description & Requirements:
The Associate Development Director areas of key responsibilities includes Grant Writing and Management, Individual Donor Management, including annual gala support and Board Engagement. Overall responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:
Grant Writing and Management
- Drive the Organization’s grant program:
- Identify, research and pursue prospective funding opportunities and maintain all current grants.
- In conjunction with the Development Director and Executive Director, create strategies and concepts for each grant funding opportunity.
- Write, develop and prepare foundation and corporation grant proposals and reports for general operating, program, exhibit and reserve funding.
- Manage the annual grants/reports calendar to ensure smooth, timely workflow, secure multiple department input, and meet all deadlines.
- Assist in the development and assembly of all relevant component materials, including budget, and ensure that each submission complies with the proposal parameters and detailed requirements of each funder.
- Help develop, and then maintain records for, annual income actuals vs. projections and program budgets
- Manage communications with prospects and donors before and after grant applications are submitted
- Make initial contact with potential funders to confirm eligibility and determine BxCM competitiveness.
- Help steward and acknowledge all grantors/potential grantors.
- Collaborate across departments to gather and include relevant information and data into each proposal or report.
- Maintain and update the company’s shared drive and donor portals to reflect the latest interactions with funders.
- Work closely with the Development Director to engage any corporate/foundation funders that are recommended through the Board of Directors, especially those to which they have personal connections.
- Work closely with the Development Coordinator to ensure that grants and grantors are tracked in the database system thoroughly and in a timely manner, and thank you notes are generated.
Individual Donor, including gala support
- Assist the Development Director in obtaining and cultivating the network of donors
- Work closely with the Development Director and Development Coordinator ensure success of the year-end solicitation, especially in coordinating efforts with Board members. Work in tandem with Marketing & Communications to create any needed presentation/ solicitation pieces
- Assist with fundraising side of the annual gala, including researching, securing and stewarding sponsors
Board Engagement
- Develop relationships with Board members and work closely with each on fundraising, both “give and get” including providing regular updates and comprehensive system downloads.
- Run regular Development Committee meetings including preparing agendas, reviewing and approving minutes and comprehensive follow-up.
- Support Development Director and Executive Director in creation of targeted presentations to potential givers identified by Board members.
More about this job:
- Some evening and weekend hours required to meet proposal and reporting deadlines and to assist at special development events.
- Ability to commute to the Bronx to meet with potential donors or assist with special events.
The ideal candidate will possess the following experiences and competencies:
- Minimum of 8 years of grant writing, development and fundraising experience with nonprofit organizations supported by a proven track record of cultivating relationships with a diverse network of private, family, community and corporate foundations and securing grants in the $50K - $1M range
- Proven track record of managing multiple foundation/corporate grants of a minimum $500,000 annually and raising new foundation/corporate funding of at minimum $200,000 annually
- Able to hit the ground running with grants writing and management
- Proven record of handling administrative processes and procedures, standard accounting practices and database use
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to proofread and draft high-quality narratives
- Excellent organizational and management skills, excel at setting and managing realistic deadlines, detailed-oriented, dedicated to completing projects in a timely manner, comfortable working in fast-paced situations and ability to work with several departments in meeting deadlines
- Excellent at follow up and stewardship
- Self-starter with sound protocol judgment
- Proven strategic, critical-thinker and problem-solver, flexible and resourceful
- Ability to multitask
- Excellent team leader
- Proficient in MS Office
- Proficient in Google docs
- Knowledge of Altru/Raiser’s Edge a plus
- Ability to work independently in a virtual office environment, travel to Bronx and surrounding NYC boroughs for meetings and special events
- Connection and familiarity with the Bronx a plus
We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone will meet 100% of the qualifications for each role. If much of a job description applies to you, then please apply for the role.